TOUGHER DRUG POLICY PROPOSED

BERNARDSVILLE - Somerset Hills Regional School District officials
were expected yesterday to consider tougher measures to crack down on
student use of illegal drugs and alcohol at Bernards High School.

The Board of Education, at its Wednesday, Aug. 25 meeting, was
expected to introduce incremental guidelines to strengthen the current
substance abuse policy by including mandatory drug testing and
evaluation, and student suspension or expulsion. The new policy would
also separate first time and repeat offenders.

The board was also expected to address the use of drug-sniffing dogs
at the high school.

Superintendent of Schools Peter Miller on Monday said the changes to
the policy were meant to "take out any gray areas of
implementation."

One of those changes, he said, was the mandating of treatment, which
has been a top concern for administrators.

"We feel very strongly about that," he said. "We want students and
families to receive the appropriate help from available agencies."

Three Levels

According to a draft of the policy provided to this newspaper prior to
the meeting, the amended policy establishes guidelines for three
levels of substance abuse.

Each level is separated into criteria for first-time offenders and
repeat offenders. The levels are described below.

Level 1: "Being Under The Influence."

According to the policy, a first-offender found under the influence of
drugs or alcohol on school grounds or at a school event would have to
undergo "extended" substance evaluation, face a 10-day suspension from
school, comply with substance abuse program recommendations, and
undergo follow-up urine screening one month after they return to school.

Repeat offenders would also have to undergo substance evaluation and
comply with substance abuse program recommendations. They would
however, face a longer suspension time of 20 to 45 days, and be
referred to an alternative-to-suspension program at Somerset County
Alternative Academic High School. They would also have to and undergo
follow-up urine screening after one month and after two months
following their return to high school.

Level II: "Being in Possession of Substances."

According to the draft, first-time offenders found in possession of a
substance for personal use in a drug-free school zone or at school
events would be reported to the local police, face a 45- to 90-day
school suspension, complete a substance evaluation program, and face a
board hearing. They would also be referred to the alternative to
suspension program at the county's alternative high school and submit
to a follow-up urine screening one month after they return to school.

Repeat offenders would face a 90- to 135-day suspension, be reported
to police, be referred to the alternative school program, comply with
substance abuse program recommendations, face extensive evaluating,
face a board hearing, submit to a urine screening after one month and
after two months following their return to school.

Level III: "Being in Possession with Intent to Distribute and/or Found
Distributing."

A student found to be in possession with intent to distribute,
according to the draft, would face a minimum 180-day suspension to
expulsion. They would be reported to the local police, complete
extended substance evaluation, comply with substance abuse program
recommendations, be referred to the county's alternative high school,
and submit to follow-up urine screening after one month and after two
months following their return to school.

A student found distributing substances within the drug-free school
zone would be expelled from school and referred to the county
alternative high school. They, too, would be reported to the police,
face a board hearing, be required to complete an extended substance
evaluation, comply with substance abuse program recommendations, and
be referred to the alternative high school.

Drug Dogs Posed

Miller said he also expected the board on Wednesday to consider the
use of drug-sniffing dogs at the high school.

He said that he and Assistant Superintendent of Schools Glen Lampa had
spoken with school administrators in Somerset, Hunterdon and Morris
counties who have used canines and planned to share their findings on
Wednesday.

Although the matter had not been posted on the meeting agenda, Miller
said he thought board members might consider a motion about using the
dogs "very soon, if not on Wednesday."

Since the April substance-related of a Bernards High student, parents
have called upon the district to toughen its stance on drugs at school.

On July 20, members of the public who attended a roundtable hosted by
the Somerset Hills Municipal Alliance and Youth Services Commission
criticized school officials for failing to expedite using the dogs. In
a subsequent interview, Miller said the research would not be rushed
because the district would be "doing a disservice" if it was.

The parents' demand for the dogs followed the April 10 death of Daniel
Boehmer, a 17-year-old Bernards High School junior from Far Hills. A
medical examiner's report attributed Mr. Boehmer's death to cocaine
use and an enlarged heart.